It’s time for another Secular Sunday.
In this issue:
- Women Worth Listening To
- Upcoming Events
- Blogginess
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Atheist Alliance International
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Category Archives: Religion
Secular Sunday #36 – Winning Women
Also posted in Atheism, News, Politics, Secular Sunday Comments closed
Irish People Abandoning Religion
Irish people are among the least religious in the world. That’s according to the latest Global Index of Religion and Atheism released by WIN-Gallup International.
The index is based on surveys conducted in 57 countries, representing more than 73% of the world’s population. Read More
Also posted in Atheism, Catholicism, Census, News Comments closed
Michael Nugent on Newstalk Radio panel discussion about religion and science
On Wednesday 6 June, Michael Nugent was on a panel discussion about religion and science on the Marc Coleman show on Newstalk Radio. The other panelists were Michael Kelly deputy editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper, Donal O’Sullivan Latchford of the Irish family and Media Association and Dublin City Councillor Dr Bill Tormey of Fine Gael.
These are some edited highlights of Michael’s contributions to the discussion:
And here is the full discussion:
Report on seminar on freedom of religion and belief in contemporary Ireland
On May 1, Atheist Ireland attended a seminar on freedom of religion and belief organised by the Irish Network Against Racism, also known as ENAR Ireland. The aims of the seminar were to improve understanding of issues related to freedom of religion and belief and religious diversity in contemporary Ireland, to identify what is needed to improve the situation, and to network with members of like-minded groups.
Also posted in Conference, Secularism Comments closed
Is religion less relevant to modern society? Debate in London on 19 April
Michael Nugent of Atheist Ireland will be debating in London with Sami Zaatari of the Muslim Debate Initiative on Thursday 19 April at 6.30 pm. The topic is: “Is religion less relevant to modern society?” The venue is Friends House at 173-77 Euston Road. Admission is free.
Pluralism in education with some prejudice against atheists: conference report
Last Friday, Michael Nugent and Jane Donnelly attended a conference in Limerick titled Towards Mutual Ground: Religious Pluralism in Educational Practice in Irish Schools. It was organised by the Mater Dei Irish Centre for Religious Education, the PDST, and hosts Mary Immaculate College. Catherine O’Brien from the Humanist Association of Ireland was also there, and one of the workshop speakers was Fionnula Ward from Educate Together.
Overall, we found the conference to be very useful, with a lot of information covered, and many people interested in sharing opinions with us both during and between the formal sessions. Unfortunately, we also heard some of the caricatures of atheism and defamatory statements about atheists that we have sadly become used to from some Catholic theologians, including the literally dehumanising claim that atheists are not fully human.
Also posted in Atheism, Catholicism Comments closed
Hibernia College teacher training course teaches untrue claims about atheism and atheists
Hibernia College Dublin, in its Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education, is teaching as part of its Religion module several untrue statements about atheism and at least two defamatory allegations about modern atheists. This includes course notes that claim that “What bothers very few of its latter-day exponents is the fact that atheist humanism produced the worst horrors history has ever witnessed, namely Nazism, Fascism and Marxism…” and a mock examination where the student is expected to answer that it is “True” that “Atheist humanism produced the worst horrors history has ever witnessed.”
Atheist Ireland is requesting that the untrue statements and defamatory allegations be immediately removed from the course notes and examinations, and then that the Religion module be entirely revised so that it teaches students about religion in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner. We have offered to assist in this by providing accurate information about atheism and atheists.
We have today sent the following letter to Hibernia College, the Minister for Education, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council; the Teaching Council; the Irish National Teachers Organisation; the Union of Students in Ireland; and selected politicians with an interest or responsibility in this area. We have already raised the matter with two Council of Europe delegations who are in Dublin this week monitoring Ireland’s record in protecting human rights. They are the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), and the Advisory Committee for the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM).
Letter sent by Atheist Ireland to the bodies listed above
Has religion poisoned Irish politics? Debate in Queens University Belfast
Has religion poisoned politics in Ireland? This debate was held on 5 December 2011 in Queens University Belfast, organized by the Belfast Humanist Group. Speaking for the motion were journalist Malachi O’Doherty, Atheist Ireland chairperson Michael Nugent and Jon Dickinson of QUB Humanist Society. Speaking against the motion were Leon Litvack of Queens University Belfast, Rev Chris Hudson of Elmwood Church and Paul Shannon of Queens Literific Society.
Does religion do more harm than good? Michael Nugent debates Adnan Rashid
Does religion do more harm than good? Here are the opening speeches from the debate in NUI Galway, on Thursday Feb 9 2012, between Michael Nugent, chairperson Atheist Ireland, and Adnan Rashid, Islamic Education and Research Academy.
Michael Nugent proposing the motion
Adnan Rashid opposing the motion
Brush your teeth, Clean your penis: Michael Nugent opposes circumcision at TCD Theological Society
This is a video and transcript of Michael Nugent’s talk yesterday opposing religious circumcision at TCD Theological Society.
Thank you very much for inviting me here today. It’s a pretty disturbing topic.
To be honest, I find circumcision to be one of the more disgusting and reprehensible examples of religion corrupting our natural sense of morality, which is based on compassion and reciprocity and not on this type of behaviour.
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